Brush stitching machine



June 19, 1945. J. B. woos'rER yBRUSH STITCHING MACHINE F'ld Nov. l0, 1945 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Siwa/M00 J. BQ woosTER BRUSH STITCHING4 MACHINE Jun `19, 1945.

Filed Nov. 1Q, 1943 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 3M M Uff@ Jahn Wn :lifter "June 19,1945.l JqB. WOSTER '2,378,456

y BRUSH STITCHING MACHINE Filed Nov. 1'o,y 1943' L s sheets-sheet s 1li-:115mb Wunsterv n "www Patented June 19, 1945 s PATENT -oFFlc-E .BRUslrs'rrrcmNG MACHINE John Benjamin Wooster, Medford Hillside,

, Mass. Application November 10, 1943, Serial No. 509,747

7 Claims. (Cl. 30o-2) (Granted under the actof March 3, 1883, as amended April 30, 1928; 370 0. G. 757) The invention described herein may be manufactured and used by or for the Government for governmentalpurposes, without the payment to me of any royalty thereon.

Thisinvention relates to a machine for stitch-- ing bristles to a brush and more particularly to a brush of the type used in cleaning the bore of large caliber guns. l

For scrubbing the bore surface of large caliber guns a cylindrical brush is most generally utilized. This brush comprises a cylinder of suitable material provided with a series of concentric rings of evenly spaced holes in which are secured the brush bristles. Formerly these bristles were secured in each of the holes in the cylinder by hand stitching. Obviously this consumed. a great deal of time because of the large number of holes in each cylinder which greatly multiplied the number of hand operations. y

It is an object of this invention to provide a Fig. l1 is an enlarged view of the rack guide cam.

Fig. 12 is anenlarged detail partial longitudinal sectional view of the' indexing stop. Y

Fig. 13 is an enlarged detail view shown partly in section of the needle guide.

Fig. 14 is a cross sectional View showing the needle poised over the needle hole in the thread thrower.

There is shown in assembled relation in Fig. 1 a brush stitching machine embodying this invention. This machine will stitch bristles onto a hollow brush cylinder A which is provided with unformly spaced holes B for fastening the bristles to the cylinder. A housing I is provided to mount the elements of the brush stitching machine. The ,housing I is an integral hollow cast member of an inverted L-shape and has a base 2 for mounting the housing upon a suitable bench. The housstitching machine for rapid stitching of bristles Y to a brush.

A particular object of this invention is to provide a stitching machine for stitching the bristles to a cylindrical brush of the type used for scrubbing large caliber gun bores. e

Another object of this invention is to provide a stitching machine having a readily adjustable carriage for advancing the brush to a new Work position. l

The specific nature of the invention ,as well as other objects and advantages thereof will clearly appear from a description of a preferred embodimentas shown in the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of the brush stitching machine.

Fig. 2 is a cross sectional view taken along the plane 22 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a cross sectional view the plane 3-3 of Fig. 1. o

Fig. 4 is an enlarged partial longitudinal sectional view taken along the plane 4-4` of Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged cross sectional view taken along the plane 5-5 of Fig."2.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged partial' detail view of the cylinder support.

Fig. 7 is an enlarged cross sectional along the plane 'I-l of Fig. 1.

8 is an'a'nlarged cross sectional view taken along the plane 8-8 of Fig. 1.

Fg. 9 is a re'ar elevational view of the brush stitching machine shown in Fig. 1'..

Fig. 10 is a perspective view of one of the cylinder supports.

taken along view taken ing I has an extending arm 3 cast integrally with an upright column 4. A vertical cylindrical head 5 is integrally formed on the forward end of the arm 3 to receive a reciprocating holder to be vdescribed. A bracket 6 is suitably secured to column 4 directly under the arm 3 and perpendicular to the column 4.

A tabe 'I is centrally mounted on the top of bracket 6 and Welded thereto. The table 'l is a comparatively narrow, thin member and is provided with beveled edges 8 as shown in Fig. 5.

A longitudinal dovetailed slot 9 is centrally provided in the top surface of table 'lto receive a Jthre'ad-thrower IIl. The thread-thrower III comprises a long, narrow, rectangular slide which is provided with sloped sides to slidably engage the dovetailed slot 9.

Approximately -in the center of the slide I0 there is provided an upstandingintegral lug II which is inclined somewhat as viewed in Figs. 4 and 13. A vertical hole I2 is provided in lug II for a purpose to be described.

A stud I3 is threadably secured to the underside of the slide I0 near the forward edge of the slide. A spring I4 under tension is suitably secured to stud I3 and to bracket 6 to bias stud I3 against the end of table 1. A pulley I5 is mounted on bracket 6 bya stud I6 in such a position that one edge of the`pulley comes directly underneath the hole I2 in thread-thrower I0. Thus athread brought around the pulley I5 can readily be inserted through a suitable hole 4in table 1 and out through the hole I2 in thread-thrower I0.

A carriage assembly I1 v(Figs. 1 and 2) is slidv ably mounted on table 1. The carriage assembly Il is used to mount a. brush cylinder A and combrush cylinder A.

, threadeed portion of the vernier prises two cylinder support members I8, whichy are separated by two bars I8, the ends of each of which are secured to opposite sides of the cylnder support members, and two adjustable guides 28. The cylinder supports I8 (Fig. 10)' are provided with an arcuate upper surface 2| which corresponds roughly to the interior arc of the A flat milled surface 22 ris provided on the arcuate surface of the cylinder supports I8 to mount the guide members 28. On the inside faces of the cylinder supports I8 suitable recesses 23 are provided near the lower edges of the cylinder supports to receive small rollers 24. arcuate surface 2| of the supports I8 so that the cylinder A may ride upon these rollers for the purpose of reducing friction. The bars I8 `are secured at each end to the sloped sides of the cylinder supports I8 by the screws 25 (Fig. 1). The bars I8 slidably engage the outwardly beveled edge 8 of the table 1. Thus this assembly is free to slide along table 'I and yet will be securely retained thereon. On one end of each bar I8 there is provided a slot 28 for lateral adjustment in order to accommodate cylinders A of varying lengths.

A centrally located longitudinal slot 21 is provided in` the top of each cylinder support I8. On the underside of each support I8 there is -provided an arcuate slot 28 to provide clearance for the slide I 8. The cylinder guides 28 (Fig. 5) are of a broad inverted U-shape and are preferably stamped from thin sheet metal. A small integral bracket 28 is bent outwardly near the top of each guide and is perpendicular thereto. The bracket 29 rests on the flat milled surface 22 on each cylinder support I8. arm of the guides 28 a diagonal slot 88 as shown .1n Fig. is provided. A small roller 3| is secured to the inside of each guide 28 by a thumb screw 32 inserted through the slot 88, which engages a suitably threaded hole ineach of the rollers 3|. LA roller 38 centrally located in the upper part of the inverted U-shaped guide 28 is mounted thereonfby a pin 84.

The brush cylinder A may thus be supported on the rollers 3| and 83 between the guides 28. The rollers 3| may be adjusted inwardly or outwardly until they bear tightly against the inner wall of the cylinder. 'I'hus cylinders of varying The rollers 24 project slightly above thebrush cylinder A. The indexing mechanism 85 is preferably placed near one edge of table l and a suitable slot 4I is provided 1n each cylinder support I8 so that movement of the carriage assembly I1 will not interfere. -Al spring biased indexing stop 42 (Fig. 12) suitably secured to the 'I'he needle holder 48 is a cylindrical member pro- In the lower portion of each n diameter may be readily accommodated. If cylinders of appreciably utilized they may be inder supports rollers 24.

To position the carriage assembly I1 in proper relation to the longitudinal spacing of thebrush holes B on the cylinder an indexing member 35 is provided. 'I'he indexing member 35 comprises a long, narrow, rectangular member provided with a row of spaced holes 31 spacing of the concentric rows of holes B on the brush cylinder A. 'Ihe end38 of the indexing member l35 is bent downwardly at right angles to form a short tang 35a (Fig. 1), which projects over the end of table 1. A Vernier adjusting screw 39 is mounted on the tang 35a. The 39 engages a suitably threaded hole in a small bracket 48, secured to the underside of table 1 as by welding. 'I'he indexing member 35 can then be laterally adjusted in either direction a small amount by turning the Vernier screw. Indexing member 35 is of course of suiiicient length to provide for indexing 'the full length of 'the maximum size smaller diameter are to be placed directly on the cyl- I8 where they will bear on the (Figs. 4 and 13) out of vided with two integral lugs 41 near the upper end thereof. A suitable axial hole is provided in the lower end of the holder 48 to receive a stitching needle 48. Needle 48 is secured within the holder 48 by a thumb screw 48. A screw 58 is provided in the top of head 5 to adjust the extent of upward movement of holder 48 in a manner to be described.

Two brackets 5I are suitably secured to the back of column 4 in alignment with the arm 8 of housing I. A long lever 52 is pivotally mounted at one end by a pin 53 in the end of brackets 5l. The other end of lever 52 is suitably rounded to fit between the lugs 41. A lever actuating rod 58 is pivotally secured to lever 52 approximately in the center thereof by pin 55. Rod 54 projects a short distance below the base of housing I. A spring 58 is suitably secured to lever 52 .and to the top of the arm 3 midway between the rod 5d and holder 48 to hold the holder 48 in its uppermost position. A stop 51 comprises a screw 58 and an adjusting nut 58 in a suitable bracket 88 which is secured to the arm 3 is provided to limit the downward stroke oi' lever 52 and holder 48. The lower end of rod 54 is pivotally secured to a crank arm 8| by a suitable bolt 82. 'I'he other end of crank 8| is mounted on a shaft 83 which is supported by suitable brackets 84. 'I'he brackets 84 are suitably secured to the underside of a bench or table on which the stitching machine may be supported. A suitably shaped pedal arm 85 is integrally secured to the shaft end of crank 8i. A spring 86 is suitably secured to pedal 85 and to the underside of the bench to assist in keeping pedal 85 in a raised position as shown in Fig. 1.

A cam 81 is mounted on rod 54 and securely fastened thereto by a. screw 1I. The cam 81 comprises a cylindrical portion 88 and an integral lug 89 and is provided with an axial hole 18 in thecylindrical portion 88. Lug 88 is sloped upwardly as shown in Fig. 1 to engage a cam dog 12 provided on the end of slide I8. Cam dog 12 is pivotally mounted by a, pin 13 in a small U- shaped bracket 14 attached to the end of slide I8. A torsion spring 15 mounted on the pin 13 is provided to bias the cam dog 12 into the path of the cam 81. The cam dog 12 is provided with a sloped surface 18 corresponding to'the sloped surface on lug 88 of cam 81. Cam 81 is sopositioned on rod 54 that when pedal 85 is depressed the cam 8l will strike cam dog I2 vand force the slide I8 to the left and hence move the lug II the path/of needle 48 as the needle comes down through vone of the holes in the brushcylinder to pick up the stitching wire as will be described in more detail later.

In the back of column 4 there is provided a centrally located slot 1.1. A solid rectangular slide 18 is placed within the slot 11 and is slidably retained therein by guides 19. The guides 19 are long fiat strips secured as by screws to the column 4 along the edges of slot 11 and slightly overlap the slide 18. Two brackets 80 are suitably secured to the 'back of column 4 about midway from the base 2 to the top of arm 3 to support a spool `8|. Spool 8| is mounted between the brackets 80 by a bolt 82. A ratchet 83 is secured to one side of spool 8| as by welding.. A projecting arm 84 is securely bolted to the slide 18 about in the center thereof. Pivotally secured to the bottom of arm 84 is a rack 85. Rack 85 is placed adjacent a cam track 86 formed by two cam plates 89 and 90 anda guide 9| shaped as shown in Figs. 1 and 11. 'I'he cam plates 89 and 80 and guide 9| are welded to the inside of one of the brackets 80. Arm 84 is offset sufciently to maintain the rack 85 in an upright position against the face of cam 86. The rack 85 is provided with a plurality of teeth 81 to engage the ratchet 83. A stud 88 suitably secured near the upper edge of rack 85 engages the cam track 86. Near lthe lower corner of cam plate 89 a one way dog 92 (Fig. 11)

' dog 12, thus bringing the wire from which is spring biased by a suitable torsion springl (ntshown) is provided to prevent the rack 85 from back-tracking around the cam when the rack 85 is permtited to return to its normal position.

A rack depressor 93 is pivotally secured to the side of bracket l80 by'a stud 94 and is spring biased by a leaf spring 95 to bear against the sloped upper surface of'rack 85 as shown in Fig. 1. Depressor 9 3 forces the rack 85 to followthe cam track 86 when the rack 85 reaches its uppermost position. The complete function of the cam track 88 will be presently describedin more detail.

A slide rod 96 (Fig. 1) is fastened as by threads to the bottom -of slide 18 and is locked thereto by a lock nut 91. Rod 96 projects slightly below the base 2 where it is pivotally secured to a crank arm 98 by a pin 99. 'Ihe crank 98 is mounted on shaft 63 adjacent to crank 6| and a pedal arm similar to pedal 65 is likewise similarly se-- cured to the, shaft endof crank 98. One end of a tension spring |0| is secured to a stud |02 which projects from the rear of slide 18 while the other end is secured to the upper part of column 4. Another tension spring-|03 is secured to'pedalv |00 and to the underside of the base 2.

Secured to the lower end of slide 18 is a bracket |06. The bracketl |04 projects downwardly and is preferably welded to the slide 18. A pulley |05 having a V-shaped groove about its periphery is`y mounted on the bracket |04 by a xed stud |06. A stop |01 which comprises a screw |08 and a. check nut'|09 is threadably insertedin a suitv able bracket ||0 secured to column 4 to limit the upward travel of slide 18. A lsuitable friction brake may be provided to engage thespool 8| if desired to retard the rotation of spool 8| when the rack-'851s out of engagement with ratchet 83. A thread guide I`|2 is secured to the riage I1 between the supports I8, andthe guide members v are brought up against each end of l the cylinder. The rollers 3| are adjusted to bear Y'against the inside of the cylinder. For the pur-r4 pose of securely fastening the bristles to the cylinder a fine wire is preferably utilized. Such wire is coiled on the spool 8|. The free end of the wire on spool 8| is led through the slot in guide |I2, underneath the pulley |05 around the pulley I5 and up through hole I2in lug II.- 'A comparatively long free end is left hanging loose. By means of the vernier screw 39 the cylinder is adjusted longitudinally so that one of the holes B in the rst row of holes in the cylinder A'will be in alignment with needle 48. Pedal 65 is then manually depressed which forces crank 6| downwardly which in turn results in needle 48 being thrust downwardly through the 'hole in brush cylinder A, to engage the wire coming from spool 8|. As pedal 65 is depressed cam 81 of rod 54 engages cam dog 12. on thread-thrower. I0 which forces the thread-thrower tothe left a short distance as viewed in Fig. 1 just priorjto the needle 48 reaching the lowest point. of its stroke. The

downward travel of holder 46`is limited by the stop 51 which arrests the movement of lever 52. After cam 61 has actuated the thread-thrower lo tothe left, the slide immediately returns to lts A passed by cam normal position after cam 61 has spool 8| directly across the path of needleA 48. 'Thus the hook 48a of needle 48will pick up the wire when raised by release of pedal 65. When pedal 65 is released, springs 56 and 66 return the pedal 65 and lever 52 to their normal ,orlraised position,

stop 50 limitingthe upward'travel of lever 52.

During the `upstroke'the top surface of cam 61 strikes the underside of cam dog 12 and pivots it in a counterclockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 1 permitting the rod 54 unimpeded upward travel. Torsion spring 15 returns cam dog 12 to its normal position where it will again be in position to be engaged by thecam 61. 'I'he thread, picked upby needle 48, is brought vup through a hole B in the brush cylinder A to form a loop. The operator then disengages the loop from the needle and inserts a small tuft o'f bristles through the loop.

To tighten the'loop and draw the bristles into the hole in the brush cylinder the pedal |00 is-then depressed.

Depressing pedal |00 causes the crank 98 to rotate downwardly which in turn carries with it connecting rod 96. Rod 96 being secured to slide 18 in turn draws that downwardly. This movement forces the rack 86'downwardly. Stud 88 vand cam track 86 4determine the path of travel of the rack 85. Teeth 81 on rack 85 then engage corresponding teeth on ratchet 83. Spring biased rack depressor 93 bears against the top of rack 85 andv assists the rack ,85 to follow 8 6 during-the initial downward movement of rack 85. This downward movernentrofv rack 85 revolves the ratchet slightly in a counterclockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 1 and in turn revolves spool 8|. Such movement rewinds thewire onto spool 8| and consequently tightens the loop previously formed and draws the wire and bristles into the I lole in the brush cylinder. Visual inspection on lower end of bracket- 84 as by welding and projects 'depth to which the bristles should be drawn the' part of the operator determines the proper into hole B. When pedal |00 is released springs I 03 and |0| returnslide 18 and pedal |00 to thelr normal or` upper position. One way pawl 92 prevents stud 88 fromV retracing its same path in 'cam track 86 and forces it around cam track 86 and hence pivots rack 85 out of engagementwith the teeth of ratchet 83.

to its starting position The upper travel of slide 18 is limited'by stop |88.

revolving too freely as pedalv is depressed so the cam ytrack y Friction brake' lll is provided to engage A one edge of spool 8| to prevent the spool from l .with respect to the path of said needle, a support member adapted to rotatably support the cylinder with its periphery at approximately right angles to said needle, said support member being mounted 'for movement along the length of the cylinder, indexing means for successively positioning said support member with respect to said needle wherebysuccessive rings of holes in said cylinder will be aligned with respect to the path Aof said needle, whereby each hole in a ring of holes may be traversed by said needle by rotation of the cylinder so that the latter may withdraw a loop of the stitching thread thru a hole of said cylinder.

2. A machine for assisting the stitching of bristles onto a hollow cylinder having uniformly spaced holes therein arranged in ring-like fashion around its periphery comprising, a needle, means for reciprocating said needle, a support arranged to rotatably support the cylinder in the path ofifsaid needle, said support being mounted for movement perpendicular to the path of said needle, indexing means for successively positioning said support with respect to said needle whereby successive rings of holes in said cylinder will be aligned with respect to the path of said needle so that each hole in any one `ring may be traversed by said needle by rotation of the cylinder on the said support, a thread thrower arranged to receive and guide a stitching thread and mounted for transverse movement with respect to the path of said needle, and means for moving said thread thrower synchronously with said needle, all .adapted and arranged whereby said thread thrower movesI across the path of said needle while the latter is projecting thru a hole of the cylinder and the needle engages the stitching thread and withdraws a loop thereof thru said hole.

3. A machine for assisting the stitching of bristles onto a hollow cylinder having uniformly spaced holes therein arranged in ring-like fash-v ion around its 'periphery comprising, a needle, means for reciprocating said needle, a support arranged to rotatably support the cylinder in the path of said needle, said support being mounted for movement perpendicular to the path oi' said needle, indexing means for successively positioning `said support with respect to the path of said needle so that each hole in any one ring may be traversed by said needle by rotation of the cylinder on the said sup-port, a rotatably mounted reel arranged to receive a stitching thread coiled thereon, a thread thrower mounted for horizontal movement in a path adjacent the path of said needle, cam means arranged to move said thread thrower across the line of movement of said needle when the latter is moved whereby said needle engages the stitching thread and withdraws a loop of the stitching thread thru a hole of the cylinder, and means for rotating said reel in a direction to tighten theloop formed.

4. A machine for assisting the stitching of bristles onto a hollow cylindrical frame having uniformly spaced holes therein comprising a hooked needle, means for reciprocating said needle, a support arranged to rotatably -support the cylinder in the path of said needle, said support being mounted vfor movement perpendicular to the path of said needle, indexing means for successively positioning said support with respect to said needle whereby successive rings of holes in said frame will be aligned with respect to the path of said needle so that each hole in such ring may be traversed by said needle by rotation of the frame on the said support, a thread thrower arranged to guide a stitching thread, said thread thrower being mounted for transverse movement with respect to the path of said hooked needle, and means for moving said thread thrower across the line of movement of said hooked needle when said needle projects thru a perforation of said frame whereby said hooked needle engages the stitching thread and withdraws a loop of the stitching thread thru the fperforation of the frame.

5. A machine for assisting the stitching of bristles onto a hollow cylindrical frame having uniformly spaced holes therein comprising a hooked needle, means for reciprocating said needle, a support arranged to rotatably support the cylinder in the path of said needle, said support being mounted for movement perpendicular tothe path of said needle, indexing means for successively positioning said support with respect tosaid needle whereby successive rings of holes in said frame will bealigned with respect to the path of said needle so that each hole in such ring may be traversed by said needle by rotation of the frame on the said support, a rotatably mounted reel arranged to receive a stitching thread coiled therein, a thread thrower arranged to receive and guide the stitching thread from said reel, Lsaid thread thrower mounted for transverse movement with respect to the path of said hooked needle, means for moving said thread thrower across the line of movement of said hooked needle when said needle projects thru aperforation of said frame whereby said hooked needle engages the stitching thread and withdraws a loop of the stitching thread thru the perforation ofthe frame, and means for rotating said reel in adirection to tighten the formed loop.

6. A machine for assisting the stitching of bristles onto a hollow cylindrical frame having uniformly spaced holes 'therein comprising a hooked needle, means for reciprocating said needle, a support arranged to rotatably support the cylinder in the path of said needle, said support being mounted for movement perpendicular to the path of said needle, indexing means for successively positioning said support with respect to said needle whereby successive ring of holes in said frame will be aligned with respect to the path of said needle so that each hole in such ring may be traversed by said needle by rotation of the frame on the said support, a rotatably mounted reel arranged to receive a stitching thread coiled thereon, a thread thrower arranged to receive and guide the stitching thread from said reel, said thread thrower mounted for transverse movement with respect to the path of said hooked needle, means for moving said Athread thrower across the line of movement of y 2,878,450 the perforation of the traine, means for rotat-y ing said reel in a directionfto tighten the'forming loop, said last mentioned means comprising a ratchet wheel connectedto said reel, a reciprocating rack, and cam means determining the position of said rack, said cam meansmoving said rack into engagement with said ratchet wheel during one direction of movement of said rack.

'1. A machine for assistingthe stitching of bristles onto a hollow cylindrical frame having uniformly spaced holes therein comprising a hooked needle mounted for vertical movement, a mechanical linkage for moving said needle downwardly and return, a support arranged to rotat,

each hole in such ring may be traversed by said needle by rotation of the trame on the said s upport, a rotatably mounted reel arranged to receive a stitching thread coiled thereon, a thread thrower mounted forA horizontal movement in a path adjacent the path of said needle, cam

means connecting with said linkage to move said ably support the cylinder in the path of said needle, said support being mounted for movement perpendicular to the path of said needle,

' t, indexing means for successively positioning said' support with respect to said needle whereby successive rings of holes in said frame will be aligned with respect `to the path of. said needle so that thread thrower across the line of movement of said hooked needle when said needle is moved downwardly by said linkage whereby said hooked l needle engages the stitching thread and withdraws a loop of the stitching lthread thru a perforation .of the frame, means for rotating said reel in a direction to tighten the loop formed, said last mentioned mea'ns comprising a ratchet wheel connected to said reel, a reciprocating rack, andv cam means determining the position of said rack, said cam means moving said rack into engagement withl said ratchet wheel during one direction of movement o! said rack.

JOHN BENJAMIN woos'rm 

